Painting machine



July 25, 1939.

s; BRAND PAINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24,- 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4free/vnf July 25, 1939. s BRAND 2,167,063v

PAINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1'533'7` 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v f7.5 fi3 /32 July 25, 1939. 5 BRAND y2,167,063

PAINTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 24,' 1937 3 sheets-Sheet 5 Hr To Pme-K Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFi-:CE

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to coating or painting machines and to a cooperative method of coating or painting articles, and mor-e particularly to a machine for and a method of 5 Ypainting .or coating the slats, headers, and the like, of Venetian blinds and similar constructions.

An object :of the present invention is 'to provide a machine which is adapted vto cooperatively coat or paint the sides and edges of .a slat, header, or vthe like.

Another Vobject is to provide a machine which includes Aa novel unit Vfor painting or coating'the edges of slats, or similar pieces.

Another object is to .provide a machine for cooperatively painting or coating the sides and edges of slats, or similar pieces, which includes paint transferring rollers and painting or coating rollers, certain of Which are individuallyr adjustable to predetermine the amount of paint being transferred and to space certain rollers for the reception of slats, or like pieces, of different thicknesses.

Another object is to provide a machine for cooperatively painting or coating the sides and edges of slats, or similar pieces, which includes an edge lpainting or coating unit and `a side painting or coating unit, Veach of `which units includes 'a `plurality of rotating elements which are driven `by a common power means.

Another object is to provide a machine for painting or coating slats, or the like, which includes 4a side painting or coating unit having an upper side painting section and a `lower side painting section, the former of 'which is adapted to be moved asa unit 'away from the latter for the reception of slats, or the like, of varying thickness.

Another object is to provide a machine for .painting or coating slats, or the like, which includes an edge pain-ting or coating unit having rollers positively rotated about vertical axes and being of configurations to receive therebetween the slat, or similar piece, being coated, Iand revolving discs rotating about a common horizontal axis for transferring paint from la container to the rollers.

Another object is to provide a machine `which is adapted to rapidly coat or paint the sides and edges of slats, or similar pieces, in an expeditious, ecient, speedy, and economical manner.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section taken on the line I-l of Fig. 2, parts being broken away `for clarity;

Fig. 2 is `a view of one side of a painting or coating machine constructed in accordance With the concepts of the present invention;V

Fig, 3 is a View ofthe other side ofthe machine shown in Fig, i2, certain parts being 'broken away 5 for the purpose of clarity and 'for conservation Vof space;

Fig. 4 .is a section on the line ll-ll of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 .is 'a section on the line '5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a 'section on the line 6 6 vof Fig. 2; l0 Fig. 7 is a section on the line "l-'l of Fig. f1; Fig. l8 is asection on the line '8-8 of Fig. '7; Fig. '9 is a section on the line 9-'9 of Fig. 7;

and,

Fig. 1'0 is `an `enlarged view of theedge painting 1'5 or coating unit, certain parts being broken away -f'or the "purpose 'o'f clarity.

Referring to the drawings more particularly yby reference numerals, 'f5 indicates generally a painting or coating machine constructed in ac- 20 'cordance with Athe teachings of the present invention. The various elements of the machine l5 are Acooperatively assembledupon a supportin'g frame generally designated l5. vThe frame 'lli is of skeleton construction and includes four .125 angle lbar lcorner posts Il', I8, I9, and '26, one longitudinal top member 21, a second top member v2? doWnt-urned to Vinclude the ldownwardly extending portion 22 '(Fig. 3,) lateral 'top members 23, 24,' vand 25, lower longitudinal members 2E 3D Aand 21, an intermediate longitudinal member 28, lower lateral members 2B land 30, and an intermediate later'al 4member '3L `It is, of course, to be i-rnderstood that the speciiic supporting frame can be varied according 'to lthe well-'known prin- .35 ciples of structural i-rame construction. The sev- Yeral elements of theV supporting frame l5 are preferably maintained in assembled relation by ,bolts I6'.

The corner post .20 extends `upwardly above 40 the frame l 6 yand supports .a container y32 (Fig. 2) by means of a base 33 which .is connected t-o the Y post 20 by a bolt 34 and a bracing strip 35. The container 32 includes in the bottom thereof an exit valve 36 by means of which fluid may be 45 drained from the container 32.

An edge painting or coating unit Vgenerally designated 38 (Figs. 6 and 10) is mounted on the frame I6 by means of the opposed upright menibers 39 and 4l), the member 39 being bolted to the 50 longitudinal members 2i and 26 and the mem- 'ber 4D being .bolted to the intermediate longigitudinal member '28 and the lower longitudinal 4.member 21.

The un'it 38 includes a base rgenerally desig- .55

' nated 4|, the transverse cross-section of which is in the configuration of the Roman numeral II and includes upper and lower horizontal segments 42 and 43 and the connecting vertical segments 44 and 45. Two shafts 46 and 41 (Figl 1) extend through aligned apertures in the sections 44 and 45 of the base 4I and are supportedY at their ends by the members 39 and 40. The member 39 has spacedapertures 48 and 49 (Fig. 2) which receive ends of the shafts 46 and 41, respectively, collars 50 determining the portions of the shafts 46 and 41 which extend into the apertures 48 and 49, respectively. The other ends of the shafts 46 and 41 rest in grooves 5| and 52, re-

' spectively, in the top edge of the member 40 (Fig. 3) collars 53 preventing longitudinal movement of the shafts 46 and 41.

A container generally designated 55 (Fig. 1) includes two side compartments 56 and 51 which are connected by the channel portion 58. The container 55 includes a connecting web 60 which is disposed against the top surfacevof the upper horizontal section 42 of the base 4| through which the container 55 is supported by the base 4|.

Extending through respective sets of aligned apertures in the lower horizontal section 4|, the

upper horizontal section 42, and the web 60 are vertically disposed shafts 6| and 62 (Figs. 6 and 10). The shafts 6| and 62 are prevented from moving longitudinallydownwardly by collars 63 'and 64, respectively, which are fixed thereto and which rest upon the lower horizontal section 4|. Rollers 65 and 66, preferably of hard rubber and of a configuration to substantially conform to the surface of the piece being painted or coated, are fixed by'set screws, or the like, or by a snug fit, to the upper ends of the shafts 6I and 62, respectively. Bevelled pinions 61 and 68 are fixed by set screws, or the like, to the lower extremities of the shafts 6| and 62, respectively.

`A horizontally disposed shaft 10 extends through aligned apertures in the vertical sections 44 and 45of the base 4| for bearing support thereby, and projects at its free extremities into the interiors of the compartments 56 and 51 of the container 55. Discs 1| and 12 are mounted upon the free ends of the shaft 10 and are disposed within the compartments 56 and 51, respectively, (Figs. 1 and 6), the free extremities of the shaft 10 comprising reduced threaded extensions 13 and 14 which receive nuts 15 for maintaining the discs 1I and 12 in fixed relation relative to the shaft 10. Each of the discs 1| and 12 has' a raised circular portion 16 of convex crosssection which cooperates with a concave portion of the rollers 65 and 66, respectively.

The shaft 10 is driven from the shaft 6| by a gear and pinion train which includes a gear 18 fixed to the shaft 10, a pinion 19 supported on a stub shaft journaled in the vertical sections 44 and-45, an intermediate pinion 8| fixed to a stub shaft 82 likewise journaled in the Vertical sections 44 and 45, and a beveled pinion 83 fixed to one end of the stub shaft 80 disposed in meshing relation with a beveled pinion 84 fixed to the shaft 6 I. The intermediate pinion 8| meshes with the gear 18 and the pinion 19.

A driven shaft 86 (Fig. 6) is disposed beneath the unit 38 and is journaled at its extremities in Abearings 81 and 68 which are supported by angle brackets 89 and 90, respectively, which are bolted or otherwise fixed to the members 39 and 40, respectively. Beveled pinions 9| and 92 are fixed to the shaft 86 and mesh with the beveled pinions 61 and 68, respectively. A sprocket 93 is also fixed to the shaft 86.

Y A side, or top and bottom, painting or coating unit generally designated I 00 is supported by and at one endof the frame I6, which comprises an upper section generally designated IOI and a lower section generally designated |02.

The upper section IOI includes a skeleton frame |03 of a rectangular box configuration (Figs. 1 and 2) which is slidably supported by a plate |04 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper transverse member 23 and the intermediate transverse member 3| of the supporting frame I6. longitudinal strips |05, two lower longitudinal strips |06, an upper lateral strip |01, a lower lateral strip |08 (Fig. 7) a laterally disposed end plate |69 opposed to the strips |01 and |08, two angle corner posts IIO at the ends of the lateral strips |01 and |08, and two angle bar posts ||I at the other end adjacent the plate |09. The plate |99 has a right angular extension I I2 which includes a threaded enlargement I|3.

An adjusting mechanism ||6 for moving the frame I 03 vertically is provided and includes a shaft |I1 having a handle II8 fixed to one extremity by a lever II9. The shaft II1 extends through an aperture |20 in a right angular extension I2| of the plate |04 and is maintained in a selected position for rotation by collars |22 and |23 disposed at opposite faces of the extension |2I. At its extremity remote from the handle I I8 the shaft I1 is threaded and engages The frame |03 comprises two upper v the threaded aperture of the enlarged portion Y I|3. A nut |24 limits the upward movement of the frame |03.

A U-frame |26 (Fig. '1) is pivoted by legs |21 to the upper longitudinal strips |05 by nuts and bolts |28. A threaded shaft |29 engages a threaded aperture in the lateral strip |08 and ncludes a reduced extension |30 which is loosely connected to the bight I3I of the U-frame |26. At its end remote from the extension |30 the shaft |29 has a handle |32. Each of the legs |21 supports in fixed relation thereto a bearing |33. A shaft |34 is journaled in the bearings |33 and extends beyond the frame |03 on both sides (Fig. l). A roller |35 is fixed to one extension of the shaft |34 and a gear |36 is fixed to the other extension of the shaft |34.

A second U-frarne |38 (Figs. 7 and 9) is pivoted to the lower longitudinal strips |06 through its legs |39 by nuts and bolts |40. A threaded shaft I4| threadedly engages an aperture in the upper lateral strip |01 and includes a reduced extension |42 which loosely engages an aperture in the bight |43 of the U-frame |38. The shaft I4I has a handle |44 at the end remote from the reduced extension |42. Each of the legs I 39 supports in fixed relation thereto two vspaced bearings I45 and 46, the pair of bearings |45 being on one side of the U-frame |38 and the pair of bearings |46 being on the other side thereof. A shaft |41 is journaled in the bearings |45 and extends beyond the frame |03 on both sides thereof. Y A roller |48 is fixed to one extension of the shaft |41 and a gear |49 is fixed to the other extension thereof. A shaft |50 is journaled in the bearings |46 and extends outwardly beyond botlrsides of the frame |03. A roller |5I is fixed to one extension of the shaft I 50 and a gear |52` isvfixed to the other extension. It is thus apparent that the rollers |35, I 48 and I5I are adjustably mounted.

A container |53 is supported by the frame |03 beneath the rollers |35v and |48, the roller `|35 dipping into the same.

The lower section |02 of the rtop and bottom coating unit |00 includes a frame |55 (Fig. 7) which is fixed to the supporting frame I6. vThe frame |55 includes upper longitudinal strips |50, lower longitudinal strips |51, 'an upper lateral strip |59, lower lateral strips "|59, one pair of vertical corner strips |60, and a second pair of corner strips |61. The several'members'of the frame |55 are maintainedas a sturdy unit by angle brackets |62 (Fig. 9). The frame |55 is fixed by any suitable means to the plate |04.

A U-frame |53 (Figs. 7 and `9) lis pivoted through legs |64 of the vertical corner strips |60 by bolts |55. A bracket |66 is fixed to the bight |61 of the U-frame |63 and includes an apertured leg |68. A threaded shaft 569 having a handle |69" threadedly engages an aperture in one strip |59 and includes a reduced threaded extension |10 which extends through the aperture in and is loosely connected thereby to the leg |53. A bearing I1I is fixed to each leg |64. A shaft |12 vis journaled in the bearings |1I and extends beyond both sides of the frame |55. A roller |13 is fixed to one extension of the shaft |12 (Fig. 3) and a gear |14 is fixed to the other extension thereof (Fig. 2).

A bearing |15 is xed to each of the vertical strips |50 intermediate the ends thereof and rcceives journaled therein a shaft |16 which extends beyond both sides of the frame I 55. A roller |11 is xed to one extension of the shaft 16 and a gear |18 is xed to the other extension thereof.

A second U-frame (Figs. '7 and 9) is pivoted through legs |f6| to the vertical strips I6I by bolts |82. A bracket |83 is fixed to the bight |84 of the U-frame |80 and includes a free leg |85 having an aperture therethrough. A threaded shaft |86 having a handle |86 threadedly engages an aperture in the other lower lateral strip |59 and includes a reduced threaded extension |01 which extends through the aperture in the leg |65 and is loosely connected thereby to the leg |85. Each of the legs |8I supports in fixed relation thereto a bearing |88 in which is journaled a shaft |89 which -extends beyond the frame |55 on both sides thereof. A roller |90 is fixed to one extension of the shaft |89 and a gear I9| is fixed to the other extension thereof. It is thus apparent that the rollers |13 and |90 are individually adjustable, whereas the roller |11 is xed to the frame |55.

A container |92 is disposed beneath the roller |90 and to one side of the frame |55 (Figs. 1 and 3). The container |92 is supported by the frame I6 through any suitable connecting and securing means.

A drive mechanism is provided whereb-y all of the foregoing enumerated movable parts are simultaneously driven by a single motor |95 which is supported by the frame I6 through the means of a plate |96 xed to the lower lateral strip 26 and a transversely disposed supporting member |91.

The motor |95 includes a driven shaft |98 (Fig. 1) to which is fixed a drive pulley |99. A gear `housing 200 is fixed to the plate |96 adjacent the motor I 95. A pulley 20| is fixed to a shaft 202 journaled in the gear housing 200 and a sprocket 203 is fixed to a shaft 204 which is also journaled in the gear housing 209. The pulley 20| and the sprocket 203 are disposed at opposite sides of the rgear housing 200. A continuous drive belt 194 operatively engages the pulleys |99 .and 20|.

An elongated vertical member 205 (Figs. 2 and 4) is connected to the upper longitudinal member 2| and the lower longitudinal member 26 by bolts 206 and 201, respectively. The member 205 extends above the frame I6 and terminates in a l; returned section 298 (Fig. 4) which is spaced from and connected to the member 205 by a connecting flange 209. rIhe returned section 293 and the connecting flange 209 may be integral with the member 205 or connected thereto by bolts 2I0. vertically spaced shafts 21| and 2| 2 are journaled in aligned opposed apertures in the member 205 and the returned section 208 and are maintained in position by collars 2 I3 and 2|4, respectively. A gear 2I5 and a sprocket 2|6 are fixed 15 to the shaft 2| and a gear 2|1 and two sprockets 218 and 2I9 are xed to the shaft 212. 'I'he vgears 2|5Y and 2I1 are in meshing relation. A continuous flexible chain 220 engages the sprocket 218 and the sprocket 203.

A second vertically disposed member 22 (Figs.

2 and 5) is fixed to'the upper longitudinal member 2| and to the lower longitudinal member 26 b-y bolts 222 and 223, respectively. `The mem-y ber 22| is disposed between the member 205 and the member 40. The member 22| extends above the frame I6 and terminates in a right angular extension 224 (Fig. 5). A vertically disposed threaded shaft 225 threadedly engages an aperture in the extension 224. A stop nut 226 is disposed on the shaft 225 for selectively determining the extent of the downward movement of the shaft 225. An operating handle 221 is: connected to the shaft 225 by a lever 228.

A U-frame 229 (Fig. 5) is mounted -on the member 22| for vertical sliding movement, the U-frame 229 including spaced legs 230 and 23| and a bight 232. The leg 230 is disposed against one face of the member 22| and is maintained in sliding relation thereto by angle members 233 20 and 234, `each of which engages the other face of the member 22| through one leg and the leg 230 through the other leg (Fig. 2). The shaft 225 extends through an aperture in the bight 232 and is maintained in engaging relation therei with by collars 235. A shaft 236 is journaled in aligned apertures in the legs 230 and 23|, being maintained in predetermined relation therewith by a collar 231. The shaft 236 extends beyond the U-.frame 229 and supports at the extremity 55 of the extension a roller 238 (Fig. 1). Laterally spaced sprockets 239 and 240 are fixed .to the shaft 236 between the legs 230 and 23| of the U-frame 229. A continuous flexible chain 242 operatively engages the sprocket 240 and the sprocket 2I6. A continuous flexible chain V243 operatively engages the sprocket 239 and a sprocket 244 (Fig. 9) fixed to the shaft |50.

A second U-frame 245 (Fig. 5) is fixed to the .member 22| beneath the U-frame 229 and includes legs 246 and 241 and a bight 248, the leg 246 being secured to the member 22| by bolts ,249. A shaft 250 is journaled in aligned apertures in the legs 246 .and 241, being maintained in predetermined relation therewith by collar 65 25|. The shaft 250 extends beyond the U-frame 245 and has fixed to the extremity thereof a roller 238 which is disposed beneath the roller 238 for cooperation therewith. Sprockets 252 and 253 are xed to the shaft 250 between the legs 246 and 241. A continuous ilexible chain 254 operatively engages the sprockets 2I9 and the sprocket 253. A continuous flexible chain 255 `operatively engages the sprocket 252 and a vsprocket 256 fixed to the shaft |12.

A continuous flexible chain 251 operatively engages the sprocket 93 (Figs. 2 and 6) and a sprocket 258 fixed to the shaft |89 (Fig. 9). A stackingboard 260 of relatively elongated configuration is xed by bolts 26|, or the like, to the transverse members 24 and 25.

The rollers, gears, pinions, and sprockets may be fixed to their respective shafts by set screws, splines, or the like. The rollers preferably are of hard rubber. 'I'he several members of the supporting frame and the auxiliary frames may be connected by bolts, welding, or the like, bolts being preferred in that such permits ready assembling and dismantling of the whole machine. Idlers may be disposed at convenient points for taking up the slack in the chains which is sometimes incurred due to adjustment. It is apparent that all of these several variations and equivalents of construction are well within the province of the invention and such is contemplated. Y

' Operation The operation of the machine which has been described in detail is positive and is effective in painting or coating the edges and sides of slats, headers, and the like. The actual coating operations of the machine 5 are simple and efficient.

Slats are disposed upon the stacking board 260 in convenient feeding positions. Paint, enamel, or the like, is disposed to sufiicient depths in the containers 55, |53, and |92.

The rollers |35 and |48 are adjusted by the handles |32 and |44 to determine the amount of paint or enamel to be transferred from the roller |35 to the roller |48. Similarly, the roller |90 is moved towards or away from the roller |11 by manipulation of the handle |86 to determine the amount of paint to be transferred from the roller |90 to the roller |11. The roller k|13 is moved towards or away from thefroller |11 by manipulation of the handle |69 to provide a ner adjustment of paint transfer, since the paint passes from the container |92 to the roller |90, to the roller |11, to the roller |13, and

v thence to the bottom side of the slat, or the like,

being coated.

The upper section of the top and bottom painting unit |00 is adjusted ,by manipulation of the handle ||8 towards or away from the lower section |02 to space the roller |5| from the roller |13 in accordance with the thickness of the slats, or the like, to be coated. The U-frame 229 is similarly vertically adjusted through manipulation of the handle 221 to suitably space the roller 238 and its associated roller.

Rollers 65 and 66 of suitable configuration are, of course, disposed on the vertical shafts 6| and 62, respectively. If preferred, coating material being used may be disposed in the container 32, whence it may be passed by the valve 36 to the container |53.

The motor |95 is started through any convenient switch means which sets in motion all of the rollers, gears, sprockets, and other movable parts, since they are all inter-connected for simultaneous movement by the several chains and the meshing gears and pinions,

A slat 262 is inserted between the roller 238 and its associated roller 238. It is carried thereby between the rollers 65 and 66 where the edges thereof are coated, and thence between the rollers and |13 where the top and bottom are coated. 'I'he operation is continuous, slats being fed between the roller 238 and its associated roller 238 as fast as the preceding slat passes therefrom.

Paint is continuously supplied to thev edge painting rollers 65 and 66 by the operatively disposed discs 1| and 12 (Fig. 10) which dip into the paint within the container 55. Paint is continuously supplied to the 'top coating roller |5| through the chain, of rollers |35 and |48, the roller |35 dipping into the paint within the container |53k and passing it tothe roller-|48 which transfers it to the aforesaid top coating roller |5|. Paint is continuously supplied to the bottom coating roller |13 by a chain of rollers, the lowermost disposed roller |90 dipping into paint within the container |92 and passing it upwardly to the roller |11 which, in turn, passes it to the aforesaid bottom coating roller |13.

It is thus apparent that there has been provided a painting or coating machine which effectively coats the edges and sides of slats, or similar pieces, in continuous succession. Both the edges and the sidesl of slats being treated are positively coated by the machine. the paint, or the like, is passed from, discs to rollers, or from rollers to rollers, which are disposed over the original containers, respectively, the splattering of paint and its attendant economic loss are substantially prevented. The several adjusting features of rthe machine make it possible to successfully coat the edges and sides of relatively large pieces of material, since the roller which paints the tops of the pieces can be moved bodily a substantial distance away from the roller which paints the bottoms of the pieces. Further, the individual adjustments for the paint transferring rollers assures the application to the coating rollers of the right amount of paint, which prevents waste and overcoating of the slats. The application of too much paint to slats is, of course, objectionable, not only from. the inevitable economic waste, but in that certain very heavily coated sections of the slat never properly dry.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a support, mechanism for coating the edges of elongated pieces o-f material including spaced coating rollers and associated paint supply discs, mechanism for coating the tops and bottoms of such pieces including a pair of spaced coating rollers and a plurality of paint supply rollers, and means for positively driving each roller and each disc.

2. In a device of the kind described, a support, and a unit for coating the edges of elongated pieces of material comprising a container, rollers rotatable about vertical axes adapted to coat the edges of such pieces, the surface of said rollers being depressed to forma groove of concave contour, discs rotatably mounted in said container adapted to transfer paint from the container to t@ rollers, each of said discs including an annular raised portion of conVeX contour, and means for simultaneously rotating said rollers and discs.

3. In a device of the kind described, a support, a pair of vertically spaced superposed pivoted rollers, a container disposed beneath said rollers and spaced therefrom, means for transferring paint from said container to said lower roller including a pair of rollers one of which is pivotally mounted, a second container disposed Inasmuch as to one side of said upper roller, and means for transferring paint from said second container to said upper roller including a pair of pivotally mounted rollers.

4. In a device of the kind described, a support, a pair of individually pivotally mounted vertically spaced superposed rollers, a container disposed beneath said rollers and spaced therefrom, rollers at least one of which is pivotally mounted for transferring paint from said container to said lower roller, a second container disposed to one side of said upper roller, pivotally mounted rollers for transferring paint from said second container to said upper roller, and means for simultaneously adjusting the upper roller and its associated rollers to Vary the vertical distance between the pair of rollers.

5. In a device of the kind described, -a support, l

to said lower roller, a second container disposed l to one side of said upper roller, rollers for transferring paint from said second container to said upper roller, and means for simultaneously positively rotating all of said rollers,

6. In a device of the kind described, a support, a pair of pivotally mounted vertically spaced superposed rollers, a container disposed beneath said rollers and spaced therefrom, rollers for transferring paint from said container to said lower roller, a second container disposed to one side of said upper roller, pivoted rollers for transferring paint from said second container to said upper roller, means for adjusting certain of said rollers for varying the amount of paint supplied to the pair of rollers, means for adjusting certain rollers to Vary the vertical distance between the pair of rollers, and means for simultaneously rotating all of said rollers.

'7. In a device of the kind described, a support, and a unit for coating the edges of elongated pieces of material comprising a container, rollers rotatable about vertical axes adapted to coat the edges of such pieces, the coating surface of each roller being of a contour to substantially conform to the contour of the edge to be coated, and discs rotatably mounted in said container adapted to transfer coating material from the container to the rollers, each of said discs including an annular portion of a contour substantially complementary to the contour of the associated roller,

SAMUEL BRAND. 

